Sports

Kennedy says Penguins missed Crosby

The Sault's Tyler Kennedy hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2009 and was also with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2010 when they were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs.

This season the Pens were bounced in the first round of the NHL playoffs by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

And a big reason for their early exit was because Pittsburgh was without Sidney Crosby, arguably the best player in the NHL, and a huge part of the Penguins.

"Obivously we missed him a lot," said Kennedy, who is back in the Sault where he'll spend much of the summer.

Kennedy didn't expect Crosby would be out for too long when he was first sidelined with a concussion early in January.

"I thought maybe it would be a month, tops. I would never have thought he would be out as long as he has."

But weeks added up to a month, then one month turned into three, and Crosby never did return to the lineup, leaving the Pens to enter the playoffs without their franchise player.

"I don't think anyone was really sure when he'd be back. You've got to respect Sid and respect that he's going to make the right decision for himself."

Crosby practised with the team a number of times after he sustained the concussion, but he was never cleared to play, which caused the star Pen more than a little angst.

"Sid's the kind of guy who wears his heart on his sleeve. You could see that he was frustrated," Kennedy said.

One month after Crosby went down, star forward Evgeni Malkin's season ended abruptly when he suffered torn ligaments in his right knee.

But despite losing the two top players the Pens battled hard the rest of the season and nearly captured first place in their division. They then went seven games with the Lightning before being eliminated from the playoffs last week.

"When Sid and Gino went down we were still fighting for first place right at the end of the year. We finished one point behind Philly. I don't think we did that bad. Obviously we missed him (Crosby) quite a bit going into the playoffs."

Kennedy, 24, a five-foot-11, 183-pound forward, just completed his fourth season with the Pens.

He found a home earlier in the year playing on Pittsburgh's No. 2 line with Jordan Staal and Malkin.

Crosby and Malkin are major parts of the team, however, the Pens proved during the final months of the season - and in the playoffs - that they are a character team with an impressive supporting cast, Kennedy said.

"It just shows we're a good team no matter who goes down. A lot of other guys played well and that's what we needed to see."

Speculation about the extent of Crosby's injury has led some to wonder if he'll ever return to the ice. Kennedy has not doubts.

"Sid will be back next year for sure."

Kennedy admits having won the Stanley Cup two years ago and then going two rounds in the playoffs last year has not given him much time to recharge his batteries. He felt it this season.

"I didn't take much time off." He said.

"I felt like I was tweaking muscles because I didn't give my muscles enough time to rest. I think rest is a big key to being a hockey player. Making sure you're mentally and physically ready."

No players are happy about the Pens early exit from the post-season, but finishing their season in April this year means they will get a little more rest during the off season.

Kennedy will spend much of the summer in the Sault getting some rest and relaxation, fishing and boating at his grandfather's camp north of the Sault.

Kennedy was tied for fourth in team scoring with the Pens during the regular season this year. He netted 21 goals and notched 24 assists in 80 games.